Federal Judge Sentences Three Men for Fraud

A federal judge today sentenced three Columbia-area men to federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud, according to a press release from the office of U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles. 

Lewis Thornwell Truesdale Jr., 59, of Irmo, received five months imprisonment, followed by five months of home confinement. John Wade Thompson Jr., 65, of Columbia, was sentenced to seven months imprisonment, followed by seven months of home confinement. William Gary Parker, 58, of Columbia, received six months imprisonment, followed by six months of home confinement.

The three men came up with a plan to embezzle $165,000 from Bayer Healthcare in Columbia, where Thompson and Parker were employees. 

The judge ordered all three men to pay $55,000 toward a total restitution figure of $165,000 to Bayer Healthcare. 

Truesdale, Thompson and Parker pled guilty in May 2011 to stealing the money through a special fund that belonged to Bayer Healthcare. 

The business development fund was used to reimburse employees for the purchase of marketing products such as koozies, wrist bands and other giveaway products. 

Truesdale, who owned a commercial real estate business, generated fake invoices for marketing products that were never purchased. Thompson and Parker submitted the invoices to Bayer Healthcare for reimbursement. The three men collected at total of $165,000 that they split evenly between themselves. 

FBI agents investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston D. Holliday Jr. of Columbia handled the case.